As with all United States' first ladies, Mrs. Michelle Obama had her own agenda▼.
就如同所有的美國第一夫人一樣，蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬也有她自己的規劃。
（右鍵可另存）
Mrs. Michelle Obama has caught everyone's attention. Wives of presidents of the United States, referred to as "First Ladies," usually play second fiddle to their husbands, as one would expect. Mrs. Obama is no different in that regard. She gave up her own work as a lawyer and Chicago city administrator▼ to attend to the couple's children and her husband's career, as in campaigning nationwide▼ for him. As first ladies do, Mrs. Obama has also focused on particular issues close to her heart.
Among these issues are improving the lives of military families, encouraging youths to continue their education, and promoting healthful lifestyles to include organic food and exercise. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, made launching the United Nations one of her personal projects, which she succeeded in accomplishing. Laura Bush, Mrs. Obama's predecessor▼, focused on health, education, and literacy, much as Michelle Obama has. Mrs. Bush was a librarian▼, so it is no surprise that she would encourage education and literacy. Mrs. Obama, from a poor family, was impressed with how education makes a difference in people's lives.
Mrs. Obama is no stranger to controversy, despite her popularity. In 2008 she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime I am proud of my country." Many people interpreted this as blatantly▼ racist▼ and anti-American. At the 2016 Democratic National Convention▼, she said, "I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves." True, but she did not mention that freed African-Americans, European immigrants, and especially Scots — brought in by the Scottish architect of the White House — also labored on the building. Despite these gaffes▼, Mrs. Obama has worked hard to make life better for American society.
1. What topic concerning Mrs. Michelle Obama is NOT mentioned in the article?
(A) Her former employment.
(B) Her current family life.
(C) Her focus on issues.
(D) Her comparison with other first ladies.
2. What issue promoted by Mrs. Obama is NOT mentioned in the article?
(A) Her encouraging youths to stay in school.
(B) Her making Americans conscious of healthful eating.
(C) Her attention to reducing poverty.
(D) Her concern with the well-being of military families.
3. Why are first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt and Laura Bush mentioned?
(A) To provide evidence of first ladies' focus on issues important to them.
(B) To show how important education is to their personal issues.
(C) To distinguish these first ladies from each other.
(D) To explain the role first ladies play in their husbands' political policies.
4. What does the word gaffes in the last sentence of the article most nearly mean?
(A) Lessons to be taught to others.
(B) Unfeeling or embarrassing remarks.
(C) Intellectually stimulating ideas.
(D) Quotations from famous people.
- refer to A as B 把 A 稱作 B
衍: refer to... 指的是……；查閱∕參考……
Lily always refers to her dog as her best friend.
莉莉總是把她的狗稱為自己最要好的朋友。
During the test, you may refer to your notes if necessary.
在本次考試中，如有需要，你們可以查閱筆記。 - play second fiddle to sb 遷就某人；擔任某人的副手
fiddle n. 小提琴
I'm tired of always playing second fiddle to Brian. I'm going to quit.
我厭倦老是當布萊恩的副手。我要辭職。 - attend to... 照料……
Kate attended to her father-in-law when he fell ill last winter.
凱特在去年冬天她公公生病時照顧他。 - succeed in N/V-ing 在……獲得成功
My parents have faith in my ability to succeed in whatever I do.
無論我做什麼，我父母都有信心我會成功。
＊faith n. 信心 - make a difference 有影響；使有所差別
Joe got involved in politics because he wanted to make a difference.
阿喬從政的原因是他想要帶來新氣象。 - interpret A as B 把 A 解讀為 B
interpret vt. 解釋，說明
People often interpret a frown as a sign of disapproval.
大家常常將皺眉頭解讀為不同意的表徵。
＊frown n. & vi. 皺眉頭 - distinguish A from B 區分 A 與 B
Individuals who are color blind often cannot distinguish red from green.
色盲的人往往無法分辨出紅色和綠色。
- campaign vi. 從事競選活動 & n.（為達到目的而發起的）運動
With the election just around the corner, the candidates will be campaigning in full force.
隨著選舉即將到來，候選人無不卯足全力造勢。
The organization is going to launch a campaign against corruption.
該組織準備要發起肅貪運動。
＊corruption n. 貪污 - particular a. 特殊的，特定的
衍: particularly adv. 特別地，尤其
= in particular
Steve has a particular interest in architecture.
史蒂夫對建築特別有興趣。
Everyone in our company works very hard, particularly Mark.
我們公司每個人都很努力工作，尤其是馬克。 - issue n. 議題
衍: take issue with sb over sth 就某事與某人看法不同；就某事向某人提出異議
I have to take issue with you over that matter.
我必須針對那件事向你提出異議。 - encourage vt. 鼓勵，激勵
衍: encourage sb to V 鼓勵某人做……
Cindy's mom encouraged her to go to graduate school for further study.
辛蒂的媽媽鼓勵她唸研究所深造。 - promote vt. 提倡，推廣；使升遷
Our company promotes education by offering scholarships to the poor.
本公司提供窮困的人獎學金以提倡教育。 - healthful a. 有益健康的
Regular exercise is healthful for your body.
規律的運動有益你的身體健康。 - accomplish vt. 完成，實現
衍: accomplishment n. 成就；才藝
You can accomplish anything you set your mind on doing.
只要是你下定決心要做的事，你就能夠完成。
Helping others gives Christine a sense of accomplishment.
幫助他人讓克莉絲汀很有成就感。 - literacy n. 識字能力，讀寫能力
反: illiteracy n. 文盲，不識字
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a literacy rate below 50%.
尼泊爾是世上最窮的國家之一，其國民識字率低於 50%。
The government is trying to address the problem of illiteracy in the country.
該政府正設法解決其國家的文盲問題。 - controversy n. 爭議
The minister caused controversy when he bought himself a car with church funds.
那位牧師用教堂經費為自己買了一輛車而引發爭議。
＊minister n. 牧師；部長；首相，總理 - labor vi. 勞動，工作 & n. 勞工；勞力
Harry's father labored in the summer sun, building a treehouse for his son.
哈利的父親在夏日的艷陽下辛苦工作，要幫他的兒子蓋一座樹屋。
Good management involves a careful division of labor.
良好的管理需要細心的分工。
＊division n. 分開，區分 - conscious a. 有意識的
衍: be conscious of... 意識到∕察覺到……
Many teenagers aren't conscious of the dangers of smoking.
許多青少年並未意識到抽菸的危險性。 - remark n. 言論
Andy's rude remark compelled me to say something back to him.
安迪的魯莽話語讓我不得不說些話來反擊。
＊compel vt. 強迫，迫使 - intellectually adv. 智力上
Teaching jobs can be both physically and intellectually demanding.
教學是勞心勞力的工作。 - stimulating a. 振奮人心的；刺激的
衍: stimulate vt. 刺激
The best lessons are particularly lively and stimulating.
最棒的課程是格外地生動且振奮人心。
＊lively a. 生動的，活潑的
To stimulate the economy, the government is lowering interest rates.
為了刺激經濟，政府正在調降利率。
▼ agenda n. 規劃；議程
▼ administrator n. 行政官員；管理人
▼ nationwide adv. 在全國
衍: worldwide adv. 在世界各地
▼ predecessor n. 前任；原有的事物
▼ librarian n. 圖書館員
▼ blatantly adv. 公然地
▼ racist a. 種族歧視的 & n. 種族主義者
▼ convention n. 大會，會議（可數）
▼ gaffe n. 失態，失禮（尤指社交上的出醜）
▼ quotation n. 語錄
出身平凡 魅力非凡 ── 蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬
就如同所有的美國第一夫人一樣，蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬也有她自己的規劃。
蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬已經引起所有人的關注。可想而知，美國總統的太太 ── 被稱為『第一夫人』── 往往願意遷就她們的丈夫退居第二位。歐巴馬夫人在這一方面沒有不同。她放棄自己身為律師和芝加哥市行政委員的職務來照料孩子以及丈夫的職涯，同時在全國各地為他競選。正如同第一夫人會做的，歐巴馬夫人也將注意力集中在她非常關注的特殊議題。
這些議題包括改善軍人家庭的生活、鼓勵年輕人繼續接受教育以及提倡健康的生活方式，包括有機食物和運動。美國前總統富蘭克林‧D‧羅斯福的妻子愛蓮娜‧羅斯福將開創聯合國當作她的個人規劃之一，並且成功地完成它。歐巴馬夫人的前輩蘿拉‧布希著重於健康、教育以及識字能力，和蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬一樣。布希夫人過去是一位圖書館員，因此她會支持教育和讀寫能力也不足為奇。出生於貧困家庭的歐巴馬夫人對於教育如何改變人們的一生印象深刻。
儘管歐巴馬夫人相當受歡迎，她仍然飽受爭議。她在 2008 年說道：『在我的成人生活當中，我第一次為我的國家感到驕傲。』許多人將這一席話解讀為公然的種族歧視和反美國行為。在 2016 年的民主黨全國代表大會上，她說：『每天早晨，我都在一棟由奴隸建造的房子中醒來。』確實是如此，但她沒有提到獲釋的非裔美國人、歐洲移民以及特別是蘇格蘭人 ── 由白宮的蘇格蘭建築師帶進來的 ── 也費盡千辛萬苦興建該建築。儘管曾經失言，歐巴馬夫人仍然竭力讓美國社會的生活更加完善。
1. 本文並未提及下列哪一項與蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬夫人有關的主題？
(A) 她先前的職業。
(B) 她目前的家庭生活。
(C) 她所關注的議題。
(D) 她與其他第一夫人的比較。
題解：全文皆在講述歐巴馬夫人的職涯、她關注的議題以及與其他第一夫人的比較，僅 (B) 項未被提及，故為正選。
2. 本文並未提及下列哪一項蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬夫人所提倡的議題？
(A) 她鼓勵年輕人繼續求學。
(B) 她讓美國人注意健康飲食。
(C) 她對減少貧窮情形的關心。
(D) 她關注軍人家庭的福利。
題解：根據本文第二段，這些議題包括改善軍人家庭的生活、鼓勵年輕人繼續接受教育以及提倡健康的生活方式，僅 (C) 項未被提及，故為正選。
3. 為什麼本文提及愛蓮娜‧羅斯福與蘿拉‧布希這兩位第一夫人？
(A) 為第一夫人關注她們認為重要的議題提供證據。
(B) 展現教育對她們個人議題而言有多重要。
(C) 將這些第一夫人區別開來。
(D) 解釋第一夫人在她們丈夫政治方針中所扮演的角色。
題解：根據本文第二段，美國前總統富蘭克林‧D‧羅斯福的妻子愛蓮娜‧羅斯福將開創聯合國當作她的個人規劃之一，而歐巴馬夫人的前輩蘿拉‧布希著重於健康、教育以及識字能力，和蜜雪兒‧歐巴馬一樣，故 (A) 項應為正選。
4. 本文最後一句的gaffes一字最接近的意思是什麼？
(A) 教導他人的課題。
(B) 無情或令人難堪的言論。
(C) 激盪腦力的點子。
(D) 引述名人的名言。
題解：gaffe 一詞意指『失禮、失態』，與 (B) 項意思最為接近，故為正選。
答案：1. B 2. C 3. A 4. B
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